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Look close…chances are you might recognize Matt Scott. By far one of the most accomplished wheelchair basketball players in the world, he’s been winning international wheelchair basketball cup titles since 2008.
He’s also a medal-winning Paralympian, a former Nike spokesperson and a nominee for an ESPY Award. It’s no understatement to say his life has been completely transformed by wheelchair-basketball, and the best part – he’s just a kid from Detroit.
From the Paralympics to kicking butt and taking names playing wheelchair basketball in Turkey, Matt has gone international with his superstardom.
Why he’s fearless
When he was born, Matt was diagnosed with spinal bifida, which means his spinal cord wasn’t developed all the way. Born in the 1980’s, doctors at the time didn’t have hope he would be very mobile, but Matt proved them all of them wrong.
He became incredibly strong and when he was 14 he was introduced to wheelchair basketball. “Wheelchair-basketball didn’t just change my life,” he likes to say. “It became my life.” After playing wheelchair basketball all through high school, in 2004 he was recruited to be on the U.S. Paralympic basketball team.
Matt went to the 2004 Paralympics, and afterwards played at UW-Whitewater on their men’s wheelchair basketball team. In 2007, he helped the US win gold at the Parapan American Games, which thrust him onto the national spotlight.
After this win, Matt was approached by Nike to star in the now famous “No Excuses” commercial, where he dribbles two basketballs or shoots the ball, but is only shot from the waist up. It’s not revealed until the end of the commercial that he’s in a wheelchair. Watch
Because 2007 was such an amazing year for Matt, he was nominated for an ESPY Award for “Best Male Athlete.” And after graduating from college with no impending Paralympics, Matt moved to Turkey to play professionally for the epic Galatasaray Wheelchair Basketball Team, a hugely popular sports club in Turkey and one of the best wheelchair basketball teams in the world, and he’s been there ever since.
What’s next?
Over the years Matt has become a huge athletic star in Turkey, signing autographs wherever he goes (wheelchair basketball is a hugely popular sport attended by thousands in Turkey; not just by friends and family like in the US). And the first year he joined the team, he helped them win their first IWBF (International Wheelchair Basketball Federation) title. Since their first win, he’s helped them win every year except for one.
And in 2012, he returned to the Paralympics playing for the US. This time he had the honor of being a brand ambassador for Ralph Lauren, and even better, he finally helped the US win a bronze medal in men’ wheelchair-basketball after a long dry spell.
While most adapted athletes aren’t able to make a living doing what they love, Matt has figured out a way. And at 29 and counting, Matt just keeps getting better with no plans of returning to the US anytime.
Not unless a US pro-league for wheelchair ballers magically pops up. If that happened, he’d be the wheelchair baller king of Detroit, we have no doubt.
Do you think a pro-wheelchair basketball league in the US could survive?
– Visit the official page for the Galatasaray Wheelchair Basketball Team
– Learn more what it’s like for Matt to live/play in Turkey
Watch the videos!
– Nike Basketball ‘No excuses’ advertising starring Matt Scott
– Paralympic Sport and Accessibility Team Promote the Chicago 2016 Olympic Bid in a Great PSA
– Galatasaray Wheelchair Basketball Team
– Riot at a wheelchair basketball game in Turkey
ideas@spinalpedia.com
